Tweet duo punished by FA

01 March 2012 07:17

Newcastle forward Nile Ranger and Walsall's Manny Smith have been fined £6,000 and £1,200 respectively and warned as to their future conduct after admitting making homophobic comments on Twitter.

The pair were charged by the Football Association on Monday along with Manchester United striker Federico Macheda. All three were accused of acting in a way which was "improper and/or brought the game into disrepute", including "a reference to a person's or persons' sexual orientation".

An FA statement read: "Newcastle United's Nile Ranger and Walsall's Manny Smith have been fined £6,000 and £1,200 respectively and both warned as to their future conduct after each admitting a charge of using abusive and/or insulting words including a reference to a person's sexual orientation."

It continued: "The charges relate to Twitter comments and both players requested a paper hearing."

No details of the case involving Macheda, currently on loan at QPR, were confirmed.

West Ham midfielder Ravel Morrison was last week fined £7,000 by the FA in response to a homophobic remark made on Twitter.

Morrison, who completed a switch to Upton Park from Manchester United at the end of January, is reported to have made the comment in response to another Twitter user.